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George Washington Georgetown Westmont College Fordham Biola University Syracuse USD Pepperdine San Diego State Mason Lafayette College DU| Point Loma Nazarene University | American University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLNU | AU | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Washington, DC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,494 | 13,019 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #252 | #84 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | american.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $42,600 | $55,724 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,600 | $55,724 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,850 | $17,012 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,370 | $40,189 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,277 | $31,402 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 62% |
Admission |
PLNU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,065 | 17,786 | ||
| Admitted | 2,506 | 8,427 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.8% | 47.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.2% | 22% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1410 | 1300/1450 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
PLNU | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLNU | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $250 |
Diversity |
PLNU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 25% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 4% |
Students |
PLNU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 2% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 94% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 4,494 students)
PLNU vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or AU?
- American University is 30.8% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $42,600.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at AU than Point Loma Nazarene University ($55,724.00 vs. $42,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Point Loma Nazarene University than AU ($36,370 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 32.4% lower than costs at American University ($12,850 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than American University (93% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 54.9% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($31,402 vs. $20,277)
PLNU vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 104 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
- Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at PLNU (26)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at PLNU (3.65)
- PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than AU (47.4%)
PLNU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or AU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AU and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (77% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $11,300 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $53,500)
- American University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $25,000)
- AU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($250 vs. $258)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/